Fairfield Prep's #44 Paschal Chukwu goes up past two East Hartford defenders to lay up to the basket, during Class LL boys basketball semifinal action in Waterbury, Conn. on Tuesday March 12, 2013.

Fairfield Prep's #44 Paschal Chukwu goes up past two East Hartford defenders to lay up to the basket, during Class LL boys basketball semifinal action in Waterbury, Conn. on Tuesday March 12, 2013.

Photo: Christian Abraham

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Paschal Chukwu, Fairfield Prep, goes up for a layup during a second round 2013 CIAC class LL boys basketball tournament game against Newington high school held at Alumni Hall, Fairfield University, Fairfield CT on Wednesday March 6th 2013.

Paschal Chukwu, Fairfield Prep, goes up for a layup during a second round 2013 CIAC class LL boys basketball tournament game against Newington high school held at Alumni Hall, Fairfield University, Fairfield CT

Fairfield Prep's 7-foot center Paschal Chukwu tweeted Thursday night that he will be heading to Providence in 2014. Chukwu reportedly had narrowed his finalist list down to St. Joseph's and Providence in recent days.

"After much thought I've decided to pursue my dream as a Friar and play under coach big Ed Cooley," Chukwu tweeted about 8 p.m. Thursday night.

UConn was also among a host of larger schools chasing Chukwu along with Maryland, Boston College, Georgetown and North Carolina State. In the end, though, Chukwu went with the school he felt most comfortable attending.

"I'm very proud of him," Fairfield Prep coach Leo Redgate said. "The final two of Providence and St. Joe's was not a shock to me. I think he chose which school he wanted to go to and not which basketball coach he wanted to play for."

Besides attending Sydney Johnson's camp at Fairfield University along with the NBPA Top 100 camp, Chukwu kept a low profile over the summer and spent some time with the Featherstones, his host family, on vacation.

He also kept a low profile on the recruiting trail, with Prep coach Leo Redgate helping to keep a tight wrap on Chukwu's college visits and decision process along the way.

On the way to leading the Jesuits to the Class LL and SCC championship games last season, Chukwu averaged 13.7 points, 12.1 rebounds and 6.8 blocks per game.

He is rated the 58th best prospect in the country by ESPN.com and the eighth-best center and 63rd overall prospect by Scout.com

Chukwu's game has drawn comparisons to former Georgetown Hoya and NBA star Dikembe Mutombo, who was a dominant defender and shot blocker.

"He's one of the best instinctive shot-blockers that you will find," said one veteran collegiate coach. "He's going to be a high major-level kid for sure because of the impact he will have on the defensive end. He's really, really good defensively."